Monday 24th September 2007

Lighter, Lower And Leaner

Cup chassis loses weight to gain performance

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Cup looks best in nun-spec black and white

If you’re in the market for a hot hatch, you could do a lot worse than opting for the Renaultsport Clio with the Cup chassis upgrade. Launched at the World Series by Renault meet at Magny Cours this weekend, the Cup incorporates features which debuted on the limited-run F1 Team R27 earlier this year; although sadly the sticker decals fail to make the transition.

The Clio Cup gains slightly lowered, stiffened springs. More importantly they lose some crucial kilos which involves junking the air conditioning, hands free keycard system and the electric door mirrors in the name of improved performance and response. Soft touch dashboard plastics and the padded door panels have also been sacrificed.

As standard, the Cup cars come in Racing Blue with 17” anthracite wheels, with Nimbus an optional metallic colour. However, we reckon that the best looks are afforded by the new Glacier White paint, especially when ordered with the optional matt black 17” Speedlines.

Other options include EURO NCAP-friendly curtain airbags, air conditioning and Renaultsport Recaro seats. Prices and launch dates to be announced soon.

[sidesauce]

Mmmmmm.... Now that's more like it!

[astrsxi77]

Good, so it'll weigh a mere 1301kg then?
How about delete the whole car and start again - I've never understood why new generation "hot-hatches" must be so tall. Do their drivers repeatedly insist on wearing top hats whilst driving?

[Mr Whippy]

Not really worthy of the name is it?

Not like the Clio 172 Cup...

Pansy crap, and look at the options, put back everything you took out! Nice...

Should just take out all the sound proofing, add some very light wheels and a carbon bonnet. Why take away the leccy wing mirrors for example, and keep that steel roof right up there? I bet the wing mirrors saved about 1kg. Wow... just really bad marketing pretending it's hardcore when in truth it's not really, it's just stupid.

Make it properly light or just don't bother.

Dave

[doddy1982]

They need to really strip all the crap out, and make it a proper hot hatch. It needs to weigh much nearer the ton. I reckon 1150 kilos is possible. It looks the bees knees in white with black wheels. I love it.

[cooleo]

Hmmmm, still no V6. Hopefully that one is in the pipeline

[Mattygooner]

Hopefully they did not get the F1 team to do the aero........

[sprinter885]

Ok- but is it really accurate to refer to it as a lighter chassis ???

[GreatGranny]

Stripping things out to save weight is the most cost effective way, cheaper to delete leccy windows than put in a carbon roof, ditto air con. People will just put these things back on as options and it will end up weighing the same as the 'normal' car.
These are mostly used as everyday cars, I wouldn't drive an everyday car without air con. Call me girly but for the minute weight saving its not worth the discomfort. I can do without leccy windows and the card access system. I think people would pay more if they did a lighter version using lighter materials, wheels etc..

[edx]

Definately a step inthe right direction for the 197, now it just needs the engine out of the Megane 225/230 popping in it.

[astrsxi77]

If the fundamental design of modern cars wasn't so overweight in the first place, you'd be able the have your electric windows and airbags and still weigh in at less than 1200kg. Remember, all those hatches of yore (Golf 1 & 2, Astra 1 & 2, Escort 3 & 4, 205...) had leccy windows and power steering as options but didn't require carbon this and thin-glass that to keep them at fighting weight.

[ubergreg]

Hmm... no mention of losing some sound deadening, or rear seats, or the stereo. If they're going to delete something like air-con on their ultra-performance variant, why not also get rid of the other heavy stuff that gets in the way of serious stop/go/steer?

I agree with a previous poster: do it properly or just don't bother. Are admirers of the old 182 Trophy supposed to be impressed with 'removing' leccy mirrors and keyless entry? Basic Clios probably don't have that crap anyway. I can achieve the same weight savings they did by simply skipping breakfast, or farting.

I feel so sorry for RenaultSport engineers, I really do. It must be so frustrating to be taking it up the chrome pipe from the marketing department on this one.

[waynepixel]

astrsxi77 said:

Good, so it'll weigh a mere 1301kg then?
How about delete the whole car and start again - I've never understood why new generation "hot-hatches" must be so tall. Do their drivers repeatedly insist on wearing top hats whilst driving?

Bloody hell that heavy for a small car like this, I thought the new Clio was in the 1100Kg or 1200Kg. This car make my MK4 Golf look lightweight.

[Wolvreen]

..... and the weight is?

[astrsxi77]

Actually, I was being facetious about the weight (figure plucked from air). Just making a point about how bloated modern metal has become.

[kambites]

The standard Renaultsport Clio weighs 1240kg according to Parkers. The thing is this isn't a small car, cars in this class are humongous these days.

Edited by kambites on Monday 24th September 12:06

[_daveR]

There are no figures for the weight saving nor price yet.

It needs to be cheap though (as Im assuming not THAT much weight will have been stripped) or people will just go for a normal 197 or F1.

[millband]

kambites said:

The standard Renaultsport Clio weighs 1240kg according to Parkers.

Wow! I think that is more or less the same weight as my first Impreza - and that was a 4wd estate!

[cerealsurfer]

kambites said:

The standard Renaultsport Clio weighs 1240kg according to Parkers. The thing is this isn't a small car, cars in this class are humongous these days.

Edited by kambites on Monday 24th September 12:06

Peugeot 205 Rallye - 794kg and 103bhp....

And that only had a 1294cc engine.

[mattbvw]

Last variant of the Cup theme - the 182 Cup - was made predominantly as a lower price point to the range as opposed to a balls out hardcore lightweight version. If you take Porsche's GT3 Vs GT3RS stance, or the M3 Vs M3CSL - lighter weight = a far bit more expensive... Not many people would be prepared to actually buy along those lines in the hot hatch market hence, I think, Renault, have tried to reduce weight and price equally.

At the end of the day - it'll be cheaper than a 197, lighter than a 197, better (Cup chassis) handling than a 197. And available in white :-). Compromise is having less toys - personally I think that stacks up as a good deal.

Edited to say - I agree with others' comments on hatchbacks getting heavier - unfortunately it sems par for the course now. I only hope manufacturers now spend a lot more time on weight reduction now that safety and performance are so high in today's cars.

Edited by mattbvw on Monday 24th September 13:26

[joz8968]

The evolution of weight is getting ridiculous, especially regarding focussed-for-petrolheads 'lightweight specials'.

This does look the absolute t1ts though in the white/black/anthracite.